MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Ohio State baseball team split a pair of games at Minnesota Sunday at Siebert Field. The Buckeyes won the opener, a continuation of a rain-suspended Saturday contest by a 5-2 count, before dropping the rubber game, 1-0. Ohio State drops to 19-10 on the season, 5-4 in the Big Ten, while Minnesota improves to 19-13, 4-2 in conference play.

Game 1

Ohio State took the early lead in the second game against Minnesota starter Ben Meyer. Jacob Bosiokovic reached on a throwing error to lead off the top of the second and scored on an RBI triple to left by Kirby Pellant. Brad Hallberg then followed with an RBI groundout to second to plate Pellant for the 2-0 Buckeye lead.

The Buckeyes tacked on to their lead with three runs off Meyer in the top of the third. Ryan Cypret singled up the middle with one down, Pat Porter tripled down the left-field line and Aaron Gretz lined a single back up the middle to score a pair. After Bosiokovic walked and Pellant was hit by a pitch, Hallberg drew a bases-loaded walk to push the lead to 5-0.

Minnesota got one back in the bottom of the frame when Larson doubled to right-center with one down and, after a fly out by Connor Schaefbauer, scored on a two-out double to left by Andy Henkemeyer to make it a 5-1 game before the game was suspended because of heavy rain.

The two teams picked up again Sunday morning and, after Dalton Sawyer tossed a scoreless top of the fourth for Minnesota, the Golden Gophers plated another in the bottom of the inning. Ryan Abrahamson walked with one down against Ohio State reliever Ryan Riga, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a single to right by Mark Tatera and scored on another wild pitch to cut the Ohio State lead to 5-2.

Neither team was able to get anything going until Minnesota threatened against Riga in the bottom of the seventh. After getting the first two outs of the inning Riga allowed back-to-back two-out singles to Larson and pinch-hitter Alex LaShomb but the left-hander was able to strike out Henkemeyer to end the threat and preserve the 5-2 lead. The left-hander was great in relief for the Buckeyes, allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out five over 4.0 innings pitched.

David Fathalikhani then came on in relief to toss a perfect eighth and Trace Dempsey retired the Golden Gophers in order in the ninth to earn his Big Ten-best 10th save of the season.

Pellant went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored while Gretz and Hallberg each tallied two RBI. Goldberg earned the win for Ohio State to improve to 5-0 on the season.

Game 2

The Golden Gophers had a great opportunity to lead off the second when Alex LaShomb hit a deep fly ball and Buckeye centerfielder Joe Ciamacco, shaded to left-center, ranged all the way to deep right-center to make diving catch just in front of the wall and keep the Minnesota leadoff man off base.

After that, both Ohio State starter Brian King and Minnesota starter DJ Snelten breezed through five frames until the Golden Gophers were able to get on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Minnesota second baseman Tony Skjefte led off the frame with a home run to left.

King pitched well for the Buckeyes before being lifted for Greg Greve in the 8th. The senior left-hander tossed 7.0 frames, allowing one run on two hits while striking out a pair but DJ Snelten was just slightly better, retiring the last 17 batters he faced, as he picked up the complete-game, one-hit shutout.

The Buckeyes host West Virginia Tuesday and Marshall Wednesday. Both games are slated for 6:35 p.m.

GAME NOTES- Pat Porter extended his hitting streak to a career-high nine games before getting it snapped in the finale.- Kirby Pellant notched his seventh multi-hit game of the season in the middle game of the series.- David Fathalikhani tossed a perfect eighth inning and has not allowed an earned run over his first 10 appearances this season.- Trace Dempsey picked up his Big Ten-leading 10th save of the season in the middle game.- Brian King retired 13-consecutive batters between the first and fifth innings of the finale.- Sunday marked the first time the Buckeyes have been shut out since May 18 of last season at Indiana.- After Sunday, the all-time series between Ohio State and Minnesota is even at 86-86-2.